Florida Beach Guide Pictures: Sanibel and Captiva Island

WILFREDO LEE, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Shells may be hard to find on other beaches, but they wash ashore in piles on Sanibel and Captiva, two slender barrier islands connected by a bridge off the west coast of Florida. The beaches of these islets catch treasures from the Gulf of Mexico like a colander cradles spaghetti. Sanibel is 12 miles long and up to three miles wide; to its northwest, Captiva is five miles long and never more than half a mile wide. Together they boast 16 miles of beach lapped by Gulf waters and bayside coasts fringed in mangrove trees, with their exposed roots and bushy foliage. If finding shells is what you like, morning low tide, before the crowds arrive, is the time for a constitutional. The beaches are beauties -- easy waves, soft sand and warm water. I found lots of clams and scallops, but nothing unusual. I picked up a heap, learning only later how to be selective. -- Susan Spano, Los Angeles Times

Shells may be hard to find on other beaches, but they wash ashore in piles on Sanibel and Captiva, two slender barrier islands connected by a bridge off the west coast of Florida. The beaches of these islets catch treasures from the Gulf of Mexico like a colander cradles spaghetti. Sanibel is 12 miles long and up to three miles wide; to its northwest, Captiva is five miles long and never more than half a mile wide. Together they boast 16 miles of beach lapped by Gulf waters and bayside coasts fringed in mangrove trees, with their exposed roots and bushy foliage. If finding shells is what you like, morning low tide, before the crowds arrive, is the time for a constitutional. The beaches are beauties -- easy waves, soft sand and warm water. I found lots of clams and scallops, but nothing unusual. I picked up a heap, learning only later how to be selective. -- Susan Spano, Los Angeles Times (WILFREDO LEE, ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Cycling is the most intimate way to get to know Sanibel Island. Twenty-five miles of paved bike paths take you almost anywhere you want to go, leading to shops, restaurants, wildlife areas and beaches. The Rabbit Road Trail runs behind homes and along a canal. If you go biking early in the morning, you're likely to see plenty of the small gray marsh rabbits that give the path its name. Wading herons and alligator snouts are other common sightings along the quiet one-mile stretch between West Gulf Drive and Sanibel-Captiva Road. Paved with shell and hard-packed sand, the Wildlife Drive biking route is a bit rough, especially for skinny tired bikes. It's a four mile loop around J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, ending three miles north of the starting point on Sanibel-Captiva Road. Along the way, you can stop and hike into the refuge on short trails or climb the bird observation tower. Avoid the road at sunset, when abundant car traffic will kick up dust. Bike rentals are widely available on Sanibel, including most hotels. FYI: On the web, go to www.sanibeltrails.com for an interactive map that will allow you to enter your starting point and plan a day on the paths.

Cycling is the most intimate way to get to know Sanibel Island. Twenty-five miles of paved bike paths take you almost anywhere you want to go, leading to shops, restaurants, wildlife areas and beaches. The Rabbit Road Trail runs behind homes and along a canal. If you go biking early in the morning, you're likely to see plenty of the small gray marsh rabbits that give the path its name. Wading herons and alligator snouts are other common sightings along the quiet one-mile stretch between West Gulf Drive and Sanibel-Captiva Road. Paved with shell and hard-packed sand, the Wildlife Drive biking route is a bit rough, especially for skinny tired bikes. It's a four mile loop around J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, ending three miles north of the starting point on Sanibel-Captiva Road. Along the way, you can stop and hike into the refuge on short trails or climb the bird observation tower. Avoid the road at sunset, when abundant car traffic will kick up dust. Bike rentals are widely available on Sanibel, including most hotels. FYI: On the web, go to www.sanibeltrails.com for an interactive map that will allow you to enter your starting point and plan a day on the paths. (TFW LEE ISLAND COAST CONVENTION)